Willits reduces drought emergency level

The Willits City Council voted April 10 in a special meeting to reduce the water shortage emergency level from Stage 2 requiring commercial water cuts and residential rationing to Stage 1. Stage 1 asks all customers to cut back water use by 20 percent compared to the prior year on a voluntary basis.

The city water supply is full and water revenues were about 40 percent lower in March 2014 when compared with March 2013, according to a statement by Councilman Bruce Burton. He also said he spoke with local nurseries and found that many people were so concerned about water supply that most were not even planning to plant vegetables in their gardens.

This emergency level restricts outdoor irrigation to between 8 p.m. and 7 a.m. and forbids outdoor watering on Mondays. Even numbered addresses can only irrigate outdoors on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays; and odd-numbered addresses can only irrigate on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.

Outdoor irrigation needs to be adjusted to make sure water does not run off into gutters or ditches.

The ordinance suggests residents replace inefficient plumbing fixtures and take other steps needed to reduce water use, including repairing leaks and adopting water efficient landscaping.

It prohibits "nonessential uses of water" including washing of noncommercial privately owned vehicles except with a bucket followed by a hose rinse. The hose must be equipped with a shut-off nozzle.

Water use from fire hydrants is limited to firefighting, required line flushing and essential construction use.

The city anticipates this voluntary program should reduce water use by about 20 percent from the prior year.

Violations of these voluntary requirements can be deemed a "public nuisance" and result in administrative penalties. The penalty for the first offense is $100; and the second within one year is $200. If the offense continues, each day it occurs may be considered a separate offense. These fines appear to be attached to the property, rather than the ratepayer.

The new ordinance also allows the city manager to order the installation of flow restrictors to limit the amount of water available to the offending property. The city manager may also order the water shut off to the property in question. Any costs associated the installation and removal of flow restrictors as well as the costs associated with shutting off and turning on water to a property will be levied against the property, rather than the ratepayer.

The council voted 4 to 1 to reduce the water emergency level, with Councilman Ron Orenstein voting against it.